Winsted likely to name new finance manager in March

WINSTED >> While Winsted officials do their due diligence on the four finalists for the position of finance manager, the current interim finance manager may be asked to stay on longer.

Town manager Dale Martin said that he may ask interim finance manager Jane Wall to stay on board until he presents the budget to the Board of Selectmen in March. Wall said she expected to be done with her duties no later than March 10, since the new finance manager should be in place by that point, but Martin said he could ask her to stay on longer, if needed, to provide continuity during the budget presentation.

"I'm looking at early to mid-March," said Martin.

Meanwhile, Martin and other town officials are running background and reference checks on the four finalists. At the same time, Martin wants to be sure the finalists are aware of Winsted's financial situation before making a permanent hire.

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"They may be interested in a job," said Martin, "but I want them to come into this with their eyes wide open."

Up until Nov. 9, the town's only finance director had been Henry Centrella, who was suspended after "accounting irregularities" were discovered. These irregularities eventually led to an ongoing criminal investigation and -- earlier in January -- Centrella's termination after 32 years. The criminal investigation is continuing, according to Martin.

Wall is also looking into claims that Centrella had told the Winchester Public School business office to slow down on their bill payments in June. School business manager Nadine Savage confirmed that the department had cut down on their outstanding bills, catching up on tuition at the Gilbert School. Meanwhile, Martin said the town has $406,000 in outstanding bills, most of which are current.

The town authorized $1 million in payments to school vendors on Thursday.